Aloo channa chaat ( Tangy potato chickpea snack)

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In our daily busy life we need to refresh our self with our thoughts and ambitions. This photograph talks a lot to me. In my career the first job offer from Mumbai was to Fariyas Holiday Resort in Lonavala, Pune as hotel operations trainee. I didn’t had any clue where Lonavala was. I went to sleep with so much rage in my heart, because I was hopeless.

I set off in the morning train to Lonavala, when I get up after a small nap, I saw clouds trying to touch the peak of the mountains – cold breeze playing with your hair, the scenic valleys, the twists and turns of the rails through the tunnels, the sight was amazing. A part of me was calling me from inside – “Seize the place my friend, seize the day”

In this rainy Manchester we curse on the rain, but there people come to see the rain. “Be angry with the rain, it simply does not know how to fall upwards” I still remember these words I’d read somewhere and for every reason I can think of, it makes complete sense. Monsoons teach us many things and for every individual, their reason to love this season differs. For me it’s the cool climate, the smell of wet mud, hot chocolate and obviously those long magical train journeys to Lonavala. Blessed with abundant green-lands and waterfalls, this place is a must visit during the rains.

This was a slice of paradise waiting for me at 1500 feet above the sea level. The accommodation they have offered for we management trainees was amazing, in a little cottage called Aaga bunglaw. The bunglaw was just right at the foot of the mountains, through the window you could see mountain ranges all across the horizon.

My those sleepless nights in Mumbai slums and restaurant tables really worth for this luxurious job. I was in heaven!! In two months time I have been awarded the best employee of the month for hosting the Halloween celebration. My first feather in my cap. It was a long journey from there. Has to step down, many times in career for the sake of family. Hope everything is for good.

Some of the foods I used to enjoy in these train journey to Mumbai was lonavala chikki, pav bhaji, sev puri and aloo channa chat. Sharing the recipe for aloo chana chat.

Lovely! Both the recipe and the post! It transported me to Lonavla. Incidentally I also had a training program in Lonavla when I first started my career in Mumbai. Looks like that was the place to go those days! 🙂 It is indeed a beautiful location and you are absolutely right – that its a must to visit it during the rains!

Wow – what an inspiring insight into your time in Lonavala and I love the way you have put this photo together – it is how I would imagine food being served in Lonavala from your beautiful description. xx

Wonderful post and beautiful pictures. I too have childhood memories of traveling by train through that picturesque route. And Lonavala looks lovely in rainy season. Roasted corn pods, spicy green mangoes, getting drenched in the waterfall, I have many beautiful memories of that place. The chaat looks delicious.

Hi Vandana Mathur, you are refreshing us many more good memories. That toasted con pods and spicy green mangoes adds spice to the walks in the streets. The most adventurous is the visit to chakrapati shivaji forts. Some take a day to reach the fort. Thanks for sharing your memories:)

Sumith,
What a brilliantly written post! I admire you for having risen high overcoming hardships. Also, I could picture Fariyas, picturesque Lonavla in the rains, waterfalls, the yummy foods and of course the famous Lonavla chikki. Your perfect aloo chana chaat just took me back to Lonavla.

Carpe diem – seize the day. Love where you are, embrace it, find its silver linings because there will always be one … It maybe a journey away when you remember the hardship and strife that you endured that gave rise to a better situation but there is always a silver lining to a cloud if we are open to it. Your story illustrates this fact perfectly 😊💫

I always love your decoration and the lovely photos of that. The silver plates on the table created an extraordinary impact on the whole composition of the photos. I love this dish very much. But, never eat it in silver plate😝.

I love your presentation, looks like ” Designer Eats”. Simply delightful!
Had been to Lonavala many years ago…..the varieties of chikki you get there is mind boggling.
Enjoyed reading your post Sumith !

Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
When I was in Shimla, a place where I was grateful for the rain every single time, for it brought out the beauty of the hills, I spied a street vendor surrounded by a crowd. It turned out that he made awesome sandwiches with the chick pea and potato mixture spiced up sufficiently. Sounded like food for philistines but yummy nevertheless!

Shimla is one of my dream destination. Tried one for my industrial training in my college days but couldn’t. Will be there one one day😊 And love chikki!! From shima, it could be only a garden for you in Lonavala😂

I asked my son to just come read this.
“Be angry with the rain, it simply does not know how to fall upwards”
We need your rain. We are in a thousand year drought where I live.
One man’s gain is another man’s pain.

Ok, apart from the recipes and your cooking skills, I must let you know that you have amazing writing skill too. The imagery you created in those paragraphs is beautiful. 🙂 Thank you for sharing them with us.